April 2011

Get Rich Giving Money

AwAy!

phil Callaway:

Money–to Grip, or to Give?

ChuCk swindoll:

3 Strengthening your Grip On Money Charles R. swindoll

pressure points

6 All That Glitters... steve Johnson

lifetrac

9 Time wise Robyn Roste

moment of insight

14 Managing your rest

lifelines

15 Cost and worth Charles R. swindoll

strong familY

16 Hope Beyond Failure Charles R. swindoll

laughing matters

19 what Money Can Buy phil Callaway

23 Surrendered to Grace Ben lowell

“Although we live in a consumer society we do not have

to have a consumer world view.”

in this issue

Copyright © 2011 insight for living Canada. all rights reserved. no portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Insights is published by iFlC, the Bible teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. unless otherwise noted, all scripture passages are taken from the nasB. printed in Canada. Unless otherwise noted, photography by IFLC staff.

by Charles R. swindoll

Strengthening

Your grip on Money

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strengthening your Grip on money continued from p. 3

now there’s a fitting title! especially in a day when our chequing ac-counts need month-to-month re-

suscitation to survive mind-numbing gov-ernment deficits and debts. Unlike those who receive incredible salaries for playing games, making movies, singing songs, and pumping oil, most of us are forced to face the fact that the only way we’ll ever see daylight is to moonlight. even then we feel like nothing more than members of the debt set. So when somebody mentions that there is a way to strengthen our grip on money, we listen.

Don’t misunderstand. i’m not interested in promoting greed. we get enough of that mercenary jungle fighting on the job every day. Added to that, the flame of material-ism is fanned anew each evening, thanks to loud commercials that pound their way into our heads. But even though we may get weary of that drumbeat, none can

deny that money plays an enormous role in all our lives . . . even when we keep our perspective

and steer

clear of greed. As is often said, money can-not bring happiness—but it certainly puts our creditors in a better frame of mind.

i agree with the late heavyweight box-ing champ, Joe Louis: “i don’t like money, actually, but it quiets my nerves.”

To the surprise of many people, the Bible says a lot about money. it talks about earn-ing and spending, saving and giving, in-vesting and even wasting our money. But in none of this does it ever suggest that money brings ultimate security. i love the proverb that paints this so vividly:

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;have the wisdom to show restraint.Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,for they will surely sprout wingsand fly off to the sky like an eagle. (proverbs 23:4–5 Niv)Can’t you just picture the scene?

wHOOSH . . . and everything is gone for good.

This is not to say that money is evil. Or that those who have it are wicked. Let’s once for all put to bed the old cliché: “God loves the poor and hates the rich.” Nowhere does God condemn the rich for being rich. For sure, He hates false gain, wrong motives for getting rich, and lack of compassionate generosity among the wealthy. But some of the godliest people in the Bible were exceedingly prosperous, even by today’s standards: Job, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Josiah, Barnabas, philemon, and Lydia, to name a few.

in my observation, both the prosperous and the poor must fight similar battles: envy of others and greed for more. Scrip-ture clearly and frequently condemns both attitudes. This brings to mind a par-ticular section of the Bible that addresses several of the attitudes that frequently ac-company money.

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Photograph of Chuck Swindoll © 2010 by David edmonson

in 1 Timothy, a letter written to a young man who was a pastor in ephesus, the writer (paul) dealt with the subject of money as he drew his thoughts to a close. while encouraging Timothy to carry on in spite of the odds against him, paul ex-posed some of the characteristics of a re-ligious fraud in chapter 6, verses 4 and 5:

He is conceited and understands noth-ing; but he has a morbid interest in con-troversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abu-sive language, evil suspicions, and con-stant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who sup-pose that godliness is a means of gain. (1 Timothy 6:4–5)

The Message renders the latter part of verse 5: “They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.”

red flag! Keen-thinking paul used this as a launching pad into one of the most helpful discussions of money in all the Bi-ble. read carefully the words that follow:

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. . . .

instruct those who are rich in this pres-ent world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to

Excerpted from swindoll, Charles R. “strengthening your Grip on Money,” in strengthening your Grip: Essentials in an aim-less world. dallas: word, 1982 (71–87).

share, storing up for themselves the trea-sure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19)

Go back and check that out. The first series of thoughts is a reminder to those without much money. The second section is a warning to all who crave riches. The third is instruction to the wealthy.

i could summarize these three sections like this:

To those who struggle to make ends meet, guard against being envious of the wealthy and work on being content with life as it is.

To those who would have to admit that the pursuit of more and more money is now a passionate drive, hear the warning again: if you don’t come to terms with yourself, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll find yourself ensnared and miserable. in the process, you’ll lose the very things you think money will buy—peace, happiness, love, and satisfaction.

And to those who are rich? put away con-ceit, forget about finding ultimate securi-ty in your money, and cultivate generosity . . . tap into “the true life.”

Straight talk, but that’s what it takes to strengthen our grip on money. Be honest now, are you gripping it or is it grip-ping you?

“money cannot bring happiness—but it

certainly puts our creditors in a better frame of mind.”

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Since the time Cain refused to give God the first fruits of his crops, humanity has had difficulty properly relating to material things, as they relate to idolatry, materialism, and stewardship.

In the past our relationship to material things was only one of many issues Christians faced. But today, in our North American culture and society where

consumerism and materialism are twin gods, this is a key issue, if not the key issue facing Christians.

we cannot escape. we live, and move, and have our being in a consumer cosmos. The global economy and interconnection of markets and resources means ev-ery time we eat a meal, listen to music, put on cloth-ing, or read a book we are being consumers.

There is nothing wrong with basic consumption or material things. we need them to live. The prob-lem comes when the “ism” is added. Materialism is the “preoccupation with or emphasis on material objects, comforts, and considerations, with a disin-terest in or rejection of spiritual, intellectual, or cul-tural values.”1

i’m suggesting that Christians, by and large, have responded to the ethos of our day with accommoda-tion. indeed we have not only accommodated our lifestyles to mirror the world’s attitudes, some have even developed a prosperity theology that promotes materialism and consumerism as a divine right.

But Jesus said, “watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15 Niv). He said it was the “deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things” that kept the word from being fruitful in the lives of believers (Mark 4: 19). One may not have riches or things yet still desire them. it is the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil, not money it-self. it is not the rich man’s riches that keep him out of heaven, but that his love for them is greater than his love for the Lord.

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Steve Johnson is the interim executive director at iFLC

Although we live in a consumer society we do not have to have a consumer world view. The early Christians lived within the roman empire but their hearts and minds were not beholden to Caesar. Likewise, we must learn to exist in a consumer empire but not forfeit our souls at its altar. Loos-ening our death grip on things and living in this consumerist, material world but not being of it can come as we obey three biblical principles.

The first is stewardship. This ap-plies whether we have much or little. it is not the amount of stuff you possess that makes you a materialist or not. it is your attitude toward it. psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LOrD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Niv). we are not owners, only managers charged with managing material things for the glory of God, the furthering of His kingdom and showing love to people. we will also give an account for how well we do that. A good steward knows this and lives accordingly.

The second principle is simplicity. Most of us have too much stuff. But get-ting rid of the clutter is hard because we are emotionally attached to it, which is

an indictment in itself. it’s hard because sometimes even the good is the enemy of the best. And it’s hard because unknow-ingly we may be deceived into believing the lie that those things keeping us from simplicity of life and devotion to Christ are things, which will make us happy and satisfy us. Compared to knowing God, they are merely trivial pursuits.

pursuing simplicity requires renewed minds released from consumerism’s grip. it requires minds captivated again by the total sufficiency of Christ to meet all our needs. Simplifying our life is a spiritual discipline that takes time to implement and diligence to maintain. yet the reward of removing the clutter is that we free up the time and mental space to pursue the Lord.

Finally, strengthening our grip on heav-en helps wean us from material things. The things of earth will grow dim as we choose to value and invest in the things of heaven more—as we store up treasures in heaven, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 Niv).

we are citizens of heaven and stewards of earth. This world is not our home and the things we collect and use are not ours.

They are not idols to be wor-shipped, but tools to use to fit us for the life to come. re-membering this will make us different and free.

1http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/materialism

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“Although we live in a consumer society we do not have to have a consumer world view.”

8

in april, 30,000 leadership books for Cuban pastors were printed and shipped to Cuba! we have raised two-thirds of the funds and need your help to finish the project.

Will you partner with us? visit insightforliving.ca/cuba or call 1.800.663.7639

update

On lifetrac.ca and facebook.com/lifetrac this month: Cheerful Hospitality and Boundaries by Emily Lynch

by Robyn Roste

1http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/materialism

time Wise continued from p. 9

How do you view time? Something to be chased? Some-thing to find? Something to dream about? Something to be lost? what about something to be quantified?

Here’s another question: Would you say you are a good steward of your time?

I always thought I spent my 24 hours per day pretty wisely—I took time for work, time for play, time for friends and fam-ily, and had enough left over to sleep. Of course I could al-ways use a little more sleep but for the most part, I was pretty proud of myself. And of course, just as I was getting comfortable with my time-keeping abilities, I got a new job.

It was for a consulting firm—one that billed in 15-minute in-crements. Since we charged our services out to several compa-nies at once, we needed to me-ticulously pencil into a logbook each phone call, email, and physical work we did.

At first I found the task not only overwhelming but a bit needless. Who cared whom I spoke to at 10:15 for seven min-utes or which company’s data I entered from 12:35–2:44? I sure didn’t and as long as my work was completed at the end of the week, it didn’t seem like my boss cared too much either.

My attitude towards logging my life wasn’t great until one day a client called up to dispute a bill. Amazed, I watched my boss go over the charges, point by point, and compare them to our logged timesheets. As quickly as each disputed charge came up, it was dispersed. Final-ly understanding why this was an important task, my attitude towards tracking my every min-ute at work changed. How I used my time in the office directly impacted our clients’ bills and just as my boss needed to be ac-countable to clients, I needed to be accountable for how I spent my time.

Have you ever logged your life in 15-minute increments? At first it feels incredibly con-straining, but if you submit to the process and use your time wisely, it can actually be quite liberating. You are able to stand behind your actions with no fear or shame. You know you will be able to face any dispute because you’ve kept careful record. You are certain you are being a good steward of your time.

Often we connect being a good steward as tithing at church or to charity, but it’s so much more than that. “Stew-ardship” refers to the manage-ment of affairs, property, or supplies with proper regard to rights of others.

“Have you ever logged your life in 15-minute increments?”

investing in eternityAre you looking for something worthwhile

to invest in? When you make sacrifices for others and go the second mile you’re

investing in people and eternity.

Subscribe or listen free online at lifetrac.ca

robyn roste is the Lifetrac coordinator at iFLC.

Think about it like this: life is short and each day we have is a gift. “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NLT). Thinking of our time this way inspires us to use the little time we have wisely. When we use our time wisely, we can be confi-dent our days will be meaningful.

There is nothing wrong with playing or relax-ing or having fun when you know your actions are pleasing to God. However, there is some-thing to be said for wasting time or over com-mitting our free time. We know when there are better ways to use the hours in a day and when we aren’t being good stewards of our time, our hearts always seem to let us know.

It’s easy to ask God for what we want while putting little time into reflecting on what He has already given us, or considering what we can give back to Him. “Remember this: Whoev-er sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap gener-ously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Whether it’s time, money, food, or other resources, stewardship is not only about ac-cepting personal responsibility for taking care of something entrusted to you, but having a cheerful attitude about it. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:7).

When I look back at my time at the consult-ing firm I am glad I had the experience of track-ing my time so exactly. It taught me a lot about how easy it is to waste time, and also showed me I didn’t use my minutes as productively as I thought. It was a humbling experience. This month I challenge you to look critically at how you use your time. Sure, logging every second of every day is extreme but if you were to track your time—even for a day or two—you might be surprised by your spending habits.

God has called each of us to our work, wheth-er or not it’s in ministry. do you agree with this statement?

what about this one? How you do your job says more about your relationship with Christ than how you worship on the Lord’s day.

many of us draw an invisible line between the sacred and the secular, reserving work for the week and worship for Sunday. in his message, Honouring God in Our Occupations, Chuck Swindoll draws some important and relevant principles from ephesians 6, which will change the way you look at your job.

if you ever catch yourself feeling like your job isn’t significant, or that only pastors or missionaries can do meaningful work, this is a message for you.

downLoAd ApriL’S free mp3 todAy At lifetrac.ca

“Whatever you give IS ACCEPTABLE IF YOu GIvE IT

ANd GIvE

ACCORdING TO WHAT YOu havE, NOT WHAT YOu

don’t havE.” 2 Corinthians 8:12 nLt

EagErLy.

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Swindoll, Charles R. The Quest for Character. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982 (48-49).

Renewal and restoration are not luxuries; they are eSSeNTiALS.

Being alone and resting for a while is not selfish; it is Christlike.

Taking your day off each week or rewarding yourself with a relaxing, refreshing vacation is not carnal; it’s spiritual.

There is absolutely nothing enviable or spiritual about a coronary or

a nervous breakdown, nor is an ultrabusy schedule

necessarily the mark of a productive life.

Mom

ent

of In

sigh

t

Swindoll, Charles R. Day by Day with Charles Swindoll. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000 (310).

“how much does it cost?” “what’s it worth?” These two questions may

sound alike, but they are different. very different.

“Cost” is the amount of money it takes to complete a purchase . . . the bill, the tab, the monetary expense required to accom-plish a financial transaction. “worth” is the usefulness of the object . . . the benefit, value, and importance of the thing pur-chased. it is the long-lasting return we de-rive from the item. Justification for paying a certain cost is usually determined on the basis of the personal worth that accompa-nies the purchase.

One other distinction must be empha-sized. “Cost” is cold, objective, and even painful. it is not necessarily easy to accept. That’s where “worth” plays a vital role. in our minds we juggle the unemotional, hard facts of cost along with the subjective, mag-netic appeals of worth. worth, when it does its job, convinces the buyer that either the cost is acceptable, or it says, “Don’t do it . . . it isn’t worth that kind of money.”

The difference between handling our money wisely or foolishly is largely deter-mined by the interplay between these two forces. Obviously, we have spent wisely when the cost is eclipsed by the worth. Again, that must be determined individu-ally. That is why, in the long run, we can usually determine a person’s scale of val-

ues by the things he or she purchases. Or, to use the words of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

So next time you ask, “How much does it cost?” think also about “what’s it worth?” This is especially true when we are decid-ing how to spend the money God’s people have given for the upkeep and ministry of the Church. while our stewardship should guard against extravagance, we certainly do not want to clothe the riches of Christ in rags.

Think about Sundays—your church life and the motivation you receive. Think about your children and their future. And their children’s future. Think about your neighbourhood—unreached individuals by the hundreds. Think about the possibili-ties of radio or television outreach, perhaps a Christian school, enlarged missionary outreaches, room to grow, room to park! what’s it worth?

Deciding whether something is worth the cost requires intense, effective, prevail-ing prayer, as well as the hard work of ob-jective thinking. And then it requires cour-age to act on God’s clear direction.

Ministries that stay alive are forever moving forward—walking along the ridge called “faith” overlooking that chasm called

“impossibility.”

by Charles R. swindoll

costWorth

AND

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Lifelines

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Stro

ng F

amil

y

by Charles R. swindoll

rAreLy wiLL one of God’S HeroeS SHow up in tHe SCriptureS HAvinG

Lived A Life free of fAiLure.

Take peter, for example. As soon as you read the name, you remem-ber his story. peter experienced the extreme highs and lows of life—from days spent in blessed fellowship with Christ . . . to the heart-wrenching erosion of loyalty when he denied the Lord. Not once. Not twice. Three times. Once he realized his failure, the Bible says, “he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62).

Can you remember a failure that was so dramatic and so tearful for you that you hardly need to be reminded of the feelings? i remember Betsie ten Boom’s words, “There is no pit so deep but that He is not deeper still.” As dark and as deep and as tragic as your failure may be, He is willing to go to the depths of it with you.

This was true of peter too. Look back at Luke 22. After the surpris-ing warning of Satan’s attack, Jesus gave peter a statement of fact: “i have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.” Then there was a veiled reassurance: “And you, when once you have turned again . . .” Then a final command: “Strengthen your brothers” (22:32).

what does that suggest? it suggests that peter was going to fall. “Once you have turned again.” “retraced your steps” is another way someone else has put it. “Once you have turned again,” Jesus said, “then use it to strengthen your brothers.” Jesus knew peter to the core. He knew peter would fall, but He prayed for him that he would not re-main fallen. Jesus loved peter—even at his point of deepest weakness.

How did He prove that love? Mark 16:6-7 answers that question. After the resurrection, while the women were standing at the tomb, an angel told them:

Hope Beyond failure

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“Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter.” (emphasis added)

isn’t that great? “Don’t forget peter. He’s the last one who thinks that i’ll ever want to talk to him again. Tell Peter!” what grace!

Somewhere between the time peter fell and this angelic announcement there was a process during which peter wallowed in remorse, wishing he could, if possible, cor-rect his error . . . but he couldn’t. And some-where in the midst of it he heard the Lord say to him, “peter, i forgive you. i under-stand. Use it to strengthen your brothers.”

That’s why peter later was able to write the following words to early Christians:

May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born

again to a living hope through the resurrec-tion. (1 peter 1:2-3, emphasis added)

why did this mean so much to peter? Because it was at the resurrection peter’s name was called, and the Lord in tender mercy said, “Tell him i’ve come back.”

First peter is a letter of great hope writ-ten by a man who experienced it! By the time he wrote this letter, peter had come to the place where he was not only back on the scene; he was aggressively engaged in the formation of the early church.

it can happen to you too. Just like fall-en and forgiven peter, you can find new hope despite your failures. if you are a be-liever, you are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 peter 1:3).

what tender mercy! what triumphant grace! Failure is not forever. God special-izes in forgiveness and hope. He can use even your worst failures in a mighty way.taken from Swindoll, Charles r. “hope beyond Failure,” insights (August 2002).

This Month’s Gift

(see centrefold for ordering information)

paperback, 100 pages

Plenty of books answer questions about budgets and stock portfolios, but this insight for Living LifeMaps book addresses the heart. it will remind you of money’s true place in your life—that god owns it, because god owns everything.

you AnD your Money

“CAn you rememBer A fAiLure tHAt wAS So DrAmAtic And So teArful for you tHAt you HArdLy need to Be reminded of tHe feeLinGS?”

Comment on this article

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by phil Callaway

1719

Laughing M

atters

“A few years ago our church sent a container of clothes to the Ukraine. we had a hundred dollars that we wanted to spend, so we found a store that would give us a good deal on a hundred dollars worth of wool work socks. Giving money away has made my life richer.”

“Five years ago my husband and i had 11 credit cards and a debt of $100,000. Today we are debt-free. For us the steps to financial freedom were simple but not always easy. First we quit spending more than we were making. Then we had a melt-down-our-plastic party. Then we paid God first (about 15 per cent), paid ourselves next (putting away 10 per cent each month), and paid the bills with what was left. we’ve had to downsize our dreams a little, but the nightmares have gone away. we’ve even had enough to give to some needy friends. Our lives are richer far because of it.”

“we’re moving across town to the wrong side of the tracks this week. we’re venturing into the Somali slums here in Nairobi. These past two years our lives have been richer because of these refu-gees. we have fed, clothed, and prayed with people who suffer daily more than i ever thought possible. in the discovery that life is harder than i’d ever imagined, i have also discovered that God is bigger and better than i’d ever imagined. we left a comfortable home in North America to offer the hope of eternity to suffering peo-ple. This has made our lives rich indeed.”

“A year ago we decided to quit eating out so much and use the money to support a needy child. we keep her picture in our dining room and pray for her almost every night. Our daughters write her letters and consider her a part of our extended family. it’s tough not to feel rich when you’re giv-ing money away.”

For six years, an indiana couple made it their habit to look on the ground every-where they went. They whacked their heads on a few tree branches, but the habit paid off. “we now have $400 in a container,” they told a reporter. Craig Davidson

of phoenix has them beat. He has found $5,170 while jogging. His wife verifies the claim. “Craig runs a lot more than the average jogger,” she said. perhaps he will spend some of the money on a treadmill.

when i was about five, i found a quarter on a sidewalk one morning (probably made more than my dad that day!), and before rushing to the candy store, i ran home to show it to my mother. “i’m gonna look for money everywhere i go now,” i told her, gasping for breath. My wise old mother sat me down and told me a story about a man who found a $5 bill in a gutter and spent the rest of his life looking for more. According to my mother, he never saw the trees. He never saw the flowers. He never saw the birds. in fact, he missed a hundred rainbows and a thousand sunsets. All he saw was gutters. “i hope you enjoy that candy, philip,” she said, “but remember...always look a little higher.”

Here are stories of friends of mine who have learned that looking a little higher helps us find the things money can and cannot buy.

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“i noticed the other day that a widow in our town is working two jobs to make ends meet. i’m able to make some extra money, so we’ve started sending her what we can. She doesn’t know about it, but our kids sure do. Often when they see some money come in, the kids want to know, “Can we give it away?”

“After many years of climbing the corporate ladder my marriage was failing. Then the company i had given so much to went bankrupt. To thank me for my years of dedication, they even bounced my last two pay-cheques. i’ve never been one to run from a challenge, so i de-cided to rebuild my home with God’s help—one day at a time. My wife and i just celebrated our 23rd anniversary. Our son gave me a card thanking me for being his father and showing him how to be a man. in that moment all the effort was worth it. without love there are only houses. without my family i would have no home. i’m the richest man alive when i’m just Dad.”

Phil Callaway is an author and speaker. Visit him at www.laughagain.org

Adapted from “What Money Can Buy.” Callaway, Phil. Making Life rich Without Any Money. eugene: harvest house, 1998 (179-184).

JUST RELEASED!Following the theme of his popular book, making Life rich Without money, Phil

Callaway has just released a 13 part small group study DVD and hardcover gift book.

(see centrefold for ordering information)

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40% off*all Chuck Swindoll Bible-teaching audio CDs OrDereD ONLiNe (series study guides included where applicable)

visit insightforliving.ca/sale today!

* Sale does not include DvDs, music CDs, paws & Tales, or other products. english products only.

April 1-30

22

Ben Lowell served as the executive director of iFLC from 2000 to 2011

by Ben Lowell

Jackson Bennett—now there’s a name of character and strength! Actually i’m a bit biased because it’s the name of my first grandchild born only weeks ago. His name “Jack” means “God is gracious,” and He is. Since the day Jack was born i have experi-

enced samplings of God’s grace as i held his hand, tickled his little feet, and peered into his deep blue eyes. Now as a grandfather i marvel at this work of grace.

But, i am also convicted by a deep sense of responsibility. God’s grace always calls me to respond. The gifts he so graciously offers are free but they call me to respond. How can one respond to such profound love?

each of us needs to consider how we ought to respond to God’s constant provision. it may be a response to a life like Jack’s that has entered your family. it may be a response to God’s blessing of unique gifts and talents and the very practical material resources that He has provided. it may even be in response to the opportunities He opens before you.

when Jack was born i realized this was a time in life to surrender myself to be a godly influence in his life, to pour into him the love that has been given to me, and to set my-self aside for his well-being.

Our response to living for God means daily surrender. every morning we pray, sur-rendering the ministry of insight for Living Canada back to God. God has blessed this ministry and our surrender of it acknowledges His ownership. we are privileged to ob-serve lives transformed, hope renewed, and new life emerge through a deeper, personal understanding of God’s love.

Surrender doesn’t come easy but only in surrender do we experience all that God would provide. it’s all about a faith adventure, and my adventure is taking me beyond the ministry of insight for Living Canada.

Therefore, i want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made my 10 years as executive director a time of incredible blessing. Never would have i imagined God’s plan or path, but His faithfulness makes this surrender possible. My heart will always re-volve around the mission of insight—“Bringing the Truth of God’s word to Life.” i know it has been our common passion that has led this ministry into even greater things than we might have imagined. And it will be your continued support that will glorify God and extend the effectiveness of this mission for years to come.

Here’s to surrender.Just a final thought…

Surrendered to Grace

* Sale does not include DvDs, music CDs, paws & Tales, or other products. english products only.

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